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After nearly 30 years in orbit, the International Space Station faces final decommissioning in 2030. Russia and NASA have joined forces to end the historic project, as financial and technical challenges accelerate the space laboratory's decline.
The International Space Station (ISS) is about to end its journey as one of the greatest symbols of international cooperation in space. But, contrary to what many predicted, the end will be less turbulent than expected. Russia, which had threatened to abandon the project before 2030, has changed its stance. In a strategic move, Roscosmos confirmed that it will continue with NASA until the decommissioning of the ISS, planned for early next decade.
The change in position reflects not only the economic constraints faced by Russia, but also a recognition of the indispensable role of the ISS as a historical and scientific landmarkBut what led Russia to give this “reality check”?
A decade of changes for the International Space Station
The ISS, built nearly 30 years ago, is an impressive feat of engineering and global cooperation. However, it is already showing signs of aging. With cracks in the Russian Zarya module, which was launched in 1998, maintenance challenges have increased significantly. According to Yuri Borisov, head of Roscosmos, cosmonauts are spending more time repairing equipment than conducting scientific experiments.
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International sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine have made Russia’s space activities even more difficult. Without sufficient resources to develop a new station or finance major projects, Roscosmos found itself at a crossroads: stay on the ISS or risk complete isolation from the space scene.
Roscosmos and NASA
Despite political tensions between Russia and the United States, the ISS remains a rare point of collaboration. NASA plans to decommission the station around 2030, using a spacecraft developed by SpaceX to deorbit it in a controlled manner.
Russia had initially announced that it would leave the ISS in 2024. to focus on construction of its own space station, ROSS. However, financial difficulties and the lack of a robust private industry, such as the American SpaceX, forced Russia to reconsider. Now, Roscosmos says it will work in coordination with NASA to ensure a smooth transition.
An orbital laboratory in decline
Over the years, keeping the International Space Station operational has become a technical and financial challenge. Worn-out structures and outdated equipment limit the station’s efficiency, especially in the Russian segment. The ISS, once the pinnacle of space technology, now faces the inevitable end of its useful life.
At the same time, the United States is pursuing a transition to private space stations in low-Earth orbit, while Russia is planning to build its own. This new dynamic reflects a significant shift in how nations view space exploration: less as a competition and more as an opportunity for public-private collaboration.
New space partnerships
As the ISS approaches its retirement, other players are gaining prominence in the space scene. China, with its Tiangong space station, is emerging as a new power, while private companies such as Blue Origin and Axiom Space are working on commercial stations that could replace the ISS.
For Russia, the lack of a strong private industry is one of the biggest challenges. Without resources or a SpaceX to boost its projects, the country will rely even more on strategic partnerships, especially with China.
The end of the International Space Station marks the end of an era, but also the beginning of new possibilities in space. The ISS has proven that international cooperation can overcome political barriers and pave the way for extraordinary scientific advances.
With the decommissioning of the ISS, the space world enters in a new phase, where governments and private companies share responsibilities and opportunities. Meanwhile, the legacy of the ISS will continue to inspire generations, reminding us that even in space, we are all passengers on the same ship: planet Earth.
Russia wants to keep its eyes on everyone, they are with the Chinese and the United States, in both lunar modules, one eye on the fish and the other on the cat.
It seems that the pioneers played a secondary role when cooperative participation ended. The axis of space research shows that orbits now represent the new Earth geopolitics.
Distorted narrative of reality!! Russia aims to have its own space station, which according to Russia will be more modern with new technologies, and in turn it no longer has a friendly relationship with the USA. As Trump won, it is believed that the relationship will be better and it already has plans to launch its own station that will begin in 2025. Highly plausible deadline.
What about space junk? How will it be removed?
It is regrettable that this mega-project, the ISS, was dismantled, as it represents a global milestone in space exploration, uniting and integrating efforts towards common goals for the good of humanity!!! … 😢😢😢😢😢😢 !!! …
But if maintenance starts to become unfeasible, there is no other alternative.